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‘We still don’t have jurisdiction in Pakistan’: How Delhi Police shut down a Pakistani troll for wanting to complain against PM Modi and RAW

OpIndia Staff
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‘We still don’t have jurisdiction in Pakistan’: How Delhi Police shut down a Pakistani troll for wanting to complain against PM Modi and RAW

On Tuesday, the Delhi Police took a dig at the Pakistani troll identified as Sehar Shinwari after she said that she wanted to file a complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Research and Analysis Wing or R&AW chief. The actress said that she wanted to file a complaint against Modi for allegedly spreading chaos and terrorism in Pakistan.

“Anyone knows the online link of Delhi Police? I have to file a complaint against Indian PM & Indian Intelligence Agency RAW who are spreading chaos and terrorism in my country Pakistan. If the Indian courts are free (As they claim) then I am sure Indian Supreme Court will provide me justice,” Shinwari tweeted on May 9.

In response to this, the Delhi Police gave a befitting reply saying they still didn’t have any jurisdiction in Pakistan. The Police also quipped asking how Shinwari was using the internet when it has been shut down in Pakistan.

“We are afraid we still do not have jurisdiction in Pakistan. But, would like to know how come you are tweeting when the internet has been shut down in your country!” the Police tweeted on Tuesday.

Pakistani troll Shinwari, who hilariously wants to file a complaint against PM Modi and RAW chief with Delhi Police also supported Rahul Gandhi recently. She tweeted that BJP would face ‘worst ever defeat’ and that Rahul Gandhi would win. Interestingly, On May 4 this year, the Pakistani entertainer wrote, “As long as BJP is in power, I don’t see any peace between India and Pakistan. Now its duty of India janta to use their power of vote and vote out this anti-peace party. “Vote for Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji in Karnataka elections and see the magic. He will bring back the glory of Mysore again,” she batted for the Congress scion.

Interestingly, the Pakistani entertainer also supports ‘Khalistan’ Pakistan’s ISI-supported propaganda that seeks a separate ‘country’ Khalistan for Sikhs. She has also tried to create a Hindu vs Sikh divide.

Although she calls herself an actress, there are no media articles, no videos on YouTube which acknowledge her as an actress. Pakistan is known to deploy PsyOps to drive an international narrative against India. 

At this point, one cannot say for sure whether ‘Sehar Shirwani’ is a real account of an actual female actress who did a one-off role in an obscure serial back in 2017.is just some honeytrap/propaganda account run by Pakistani intelligence agencies for some ulterior motives?

Notably, Indian netizens mocked the actress as she intended to file a police complaint against PM Modi and the RA&W chief. While many of them shared emojis expressing laughter, one of the users said that the actress should have contacted the Uttar Pradesh Police for an appropriate solution under the rule of CM Yogi Adityanath. Another user meanwhile said that the tweet made by the actress made no sense.

Netizens mocking the Pakistani actress

However, after the Delhi Police gave a scathing reply to the actress, the netizens indicated that Delhi Police would soon have jurisdiction over Pakistan as well. One of the users also said that the actress tagged the wrong police and that she should have tagged the Uttar Pradesh Police for instant results.

“Delhi Police may not be but UP Police has jurisdiction all over the world. UP Police is requested to register charges under relevant sections in the relevant case. Initiate critical proceedings and send a notice to the said woman to come to Lucknow Police Station under Section 157 of the Penal Code for investigation,” the tweet in Hindi read.

Comments followed by Delhi Police’s tweet

Other users also suggested that Delhi Police would soon have jurisdiction in Pakistan and Afghanistan as well. “Delhi Police, don’t forget Afghanistan tak apna hai,” one of the users wrote.

Comments followed by Delhi Police’s tweet

The troll is said to have posted the tweet after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan got detained yesterday. Notably, mobile broadband connections have been suspended nationwide since yesterday in Pakistan following the widespread sharing of recordings of violent protests on social media sites as unrest increased following the detention of Imran Khan.

Following Imran Khan’s detention, PTI activists protested in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Karachi, Quetta, Mardan, Bannu, and Chilas, among other Pakistani cities. According to several accounts in Pakistani media, protesters broke into the Lahore and Rawalpindi homes of army generals.

Several videos that have surfaced on social media sites show groups of men approaching the gated GHQ property with sticks, which they subsequently are shown using to batter the walls. Some of the individuals have their faces covered.

Amnesty International, a human rights organisation, has meanwhile urged the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to reinstate internet connection for Pakistanis as well as access to Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Military persons detained Imran Khan on Tuesday while he was leaving the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises in relation to a warrant issued by the National Accountability Bureau in the Al-Qadir Trust case. Following his detention, the PTI encouraged its followers to demonstrate in Pakistan by closing all businesses and blocking all roadways. Imran Khan’s detention was deemed legitimate on Tuesday by the Islamabad High Court.

‘Virat Hindu’ Subramanian Swamy reveals he met Mamata Banerjee, who had declared ‘jihad’ against BJP, to discuss 2024 LS elections, says she should be PM

OpIndia Staff
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‘Virat Hindu’ Subramanian Swamy reveals he met Mamata Banerjee, who had declared ‘jihad’ against BJP, to discuss 2024 LS elections, says she should be PM

On Tuesday, May 9, former Rajya Sabha MP and BJP ‘leader’ Subramaniam Swamy showered praises on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and said that she should be the Prime Minister of India. Swamy also asserted that the country needs a genuine political opposition that is not afraid of the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).

“Mamata Banerjee should be the Prime Minister of India. She is a gutsy woman, just look at how she fought the communists. I met her ten days ago but nobody knows about that,” Swamy said during an interactive session at an event organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in Kolkata. 

When asked about details of his meeting with the West Bengal CM, Swamy said that it was about the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and what shape the Indian economy would be in 2024.

Swamy further asserted that “Mamata Banerjee is the only woman leader who has the guts to stand up,” in response to a question regarding who he thinks is the most powerful woman leader in India. Swamy also said that there was a time Jayalalitha could have been, then at a time thought of Mayawati but in the present scenario Swamy opined that Mamata Banerjee is the most powerful woman in the country as “she is not complicit” and that it is “impossible to blackmail her”.

Concerning the opposition, Subramanian Swamy stated that the country requires a genuine opposition that is neither ‘afraid’ nor a ‘friend’ of the ruling party, claiming that opposition parties do not go beyond a point against the BJP because they are afraid of being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) or another probe agency.

“I know a lot of people today. They will not go beyond a point against the present government. Because they are afraid that ED will turn up or something else will turn up. That’s not good for Indian democracy,” Swamy said.

Interestingly, this is not the first time that Subramaniam Swamy has heaped praises on the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo.

In 2021, Swamy lauded Mamata Banerjee and compared her to JP (Jayaprakash Narayan), Rajiv Gandhi, Morarji Desai and PV Narasimha Rao. 

“Of all the politicians I have met or worked with, Mamata Banerjee ranks with JP, Morarji Desai, Rajiv Gandhi, Chandrashekhar, and P V Narasimha Rao who meant what they said and said what they meant. In Indian politics that is a rare quality,” Swamy tweeted back in 2021.

Moreover, last year, Swamy who often likes to call himself a ‘Virat Hindu’ met the West Bengal CM in Kolkata even after several Hindus were killed in the state in post-poll violence in 2021. Swamy once again heaped praises on  Banerjee as he tweeted, “Today I was in Kolkata and met the charismatic Mamata Banerjee. She is a courageous person. I admired her fight against the CPM in which she decimated the Communists.”

Forced to use the toilet with its door opened: Times Now journalist Bhavana Kishore narrates her ordeal after Punjab police arrested her, breaks down

OpIndia Staff
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Forced to use the toilet with its door opened: Times Now journalist Bhavana Kishore narrates her ordeal after Punjab police arrested her, breaks down

On May 9, Times Now Navbharat reporter Bhawana Kishore, who was arrested by Punjab Police for allegedly being involved in an accident and using casteist slurs after an accident, talked about her ordeal during the time she was in custody. She told Group Editor Navika Kumar and anchor Sushant B Sinha that she was forced by the police to use the toilet with its door open.

On the day of the arrest, the police told her that her medical was scheduled for 1 AM, and after that, she would be presented in front of the magistrate. She said, “I was not feeling well, so I ate the food [they gave]. The driver and cameraperson also ate a little. I was having a lot of water as I was feeling nervous. When I went to the washroom, 2-3 female constables accompanied me. There was no electricity or water at the police station [I was kept in].”

Bhawana broke down on camera while describing her humiliation during the custody. “I still used the washroom while the door was open. I was under so much mental pressure that I felt no shame,” she said.

Later that night, senior police officials came to meet her. She said, “I folded my hands before them and told them I did not do anything wrong. Please let me go. You can check the CCTV footage. My cameraperson and driver are also innocent. They told me they knew I did nothing wrong and asked me to cooperate.”

Bhawana further told Navika that the washroom she was allowed to use at the hospital where she went for the medical had blood-soaked clothes. “I felt like I would vomit. I saw dead bodies in the hospital late at night. If I think about it, I again feel the same.”

She said there were female constables around her. They allowed her to use the washroom to take a bath, but she could not lock the doors on one condition. She said, “I felt awkward that the door was open and they [female constables] might be looking. I feared that a CCTV was recording me while I was using the washroom.”

Bhawana Kishore arrest

The Punjab police May 5 arrested Times Now Navbharat journalist Bhawana Kishore in a rash driving case. The police arrested her and two other crew members Mrityunjay Kumar and Parminder Singh. The police invoked provisions of the stringent SC/ST Act along with various sections of the IPC against the scribes.

According to the police, the arrest was made after a woman was injured on her right hand when the car they were travelling in collided with her. According to the authorities, the trio was also charged with abusing the victim with casteist slurs. The police registered a case against the scribes under Sections 279, 337 and 427 of the IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the SC and ST Act.

Following the arrest, Times Now alleged that their reporter has been falsely implicated in an SC-ST case by the Ludhiana police. The channel also said that she was not driving the vehicle and is not responsible for the accident. Bhawana was arrested while she was on her way to report the inauguration of Mohalla Clinics by AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal.

The channel, hinting at an alleged witchhunt launched against them by the Aam Aadmi Party after their recent “Operation Sheesh Mahal” expose against their supremo Arvind Kejriwal, said that Bhawana was taken away in a car by a male cop before a flimsy FIR was filed against her in Ludhiana’s Section 3 Division Police Station. It was also noted that the said cop was not wearing a nameplate displaying his name while taking Bhavana.

She was granted bail. On May 9, during the hearing of the case, Judge Deepak Sibbal rescued himself from the case and sent it to the CJI. A new bench will be appointed to hear the matter.

Chants of ‘Allahu Akbar’ and ‘Nara-e-Takbeer’ grip Pakistan: Protests erupt in different cities after Imran Khan’s arrest; Pakistan Army HQ stormed

OpIndia Staff
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Chants of ‘Allahu Akbar’ and ‘Nara-e-Takbeer’ grip Pakistan: Protests erupt in different cities after Imran Khan’s arrest; Pakistan Army HQ stormed

Pakistan is on fire following the arrest of Imran Khan by Pakistani Rangers outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) earlier in the day. The former Prime Minister and PTI chief’s supporters have taken to the streets to protest against his arrest. According to reports, the large-scale protests emerged after the party appealed to the people to hit the streets. 

The protests have reportedly spread to various cities including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar and Mardan. Angry crowds of protesters, presumably PTI supporters, chanting Allahu Akbar and Nara-e-Takbeer have lined up on the streets of Pakistan, going on a rampage against Army establishments to protest against Khan’s arrest.

Videos have emerged showing Imran Khan supporters, including women, throwing stones and beating up police personnel and vandalising several important government buildings and residences of Army officials.

Journalist Aditya Raj Kaul shared a video showing hundreds of angry PTI supporters breaking into the Pakistan Army headquarters in Rawalpindi. The protestors can be seen breaking barricades and iron gates to forcefully enter the high-security area.

In the same video shared by Defence analyst Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, the mob can be seen raising “Naara-e-Takbeer, Allah-hu-Akbar” slogans as they are into the Army headquarters.

Kaul shared another video where PTI supporters attacked the Pakistan Spy Agency ISI headquarters after Imran Khan’s arrest.

In another video shared by Defence analyst Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, several irate protestors can be seen vandalising the residence of an army officer in the Lahore Cantt area. 

Iyer shared another video showing protestors attacking Pakistani police personnel with sticks and rods.

The PTI supporters have reportedly set the Lahore Corps commander’s house on fire.

Air Force dummy aircraft set on fire outside Mianwali air base.

Radio Pakistan building set on fire.

Videos showing the irate mob setting fire to vehicles and government properties including the Rangers post in Karachi also emerged on social media.

In another video, Imran Khan’s supporters can be seen pelting stones and clashing with the police in Karachi’s Shahrah-e-Faisal area.

The protests against the arrest of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan turned gruesome after PTI supporters set fire to a police vehicle in Karachi. The police van was reportedly carrying prisoners. 

The Army and police in Pakistan have been resorting to water canons and tear gas to disperse Imran Khan’s angry supporters who have been creating a ruckus in several parts of the country. In the midst of all the chaos, reports are emerging that four boys were hit with bullets in the ensuing mayhem.

Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure has been imposed in Islamabad.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister and PTI chief Imran Khan arrested from outside the Islamabad High Court

The protest erupted after former Pakistan Prime Minister and PTI chief Imran Khan was arrested from outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) by Pakistani Rangers. Imran Khan had reportedly gone to the Islamabad HC to seek bail in multiple FIRs registered against him.

According to local media, the PTI chairman was taken in a black Vigo by the law enforcement agency.

The PTI chief reportedly has been arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case of the National Accountability Bureau as well as the Toshakhana case.

‘HM within his right to say religion-based reservation is unconstitutional’: Read arguments that led SC to reject Muslim body’s prayer to censor media

OpIndia Staff
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‘HM within his right to say religion-based reservation is unconstitutional’: Read arguments that led SC to reject Muslim body’s prayer to censor media

On Tuesday, May 9, the Supreme Court refused to entertain the plea made by the Central Muslim Association to restrain the press from publishing speeches made by public functionaries on subjects that are sub-judice or before Court.

The bench of Justice KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna was hearing a plea challenging the Karnataka Government’s decision to scrap the 4% reservation for Muslims in government jobs and educational institutions and distribute it equally to Vokkaligas and Lingayats in the state.

The Central Muslim Association’s appeal was made in response to statements made by Home Minister Amit Shah that the incumbent BJP government in Karnataka, as promised, has revoked the reservation for Muslims in the state.

In multiple interviews with local television channels in Karnataka and during poll campaigns, HM Amit Shah had said there was no provision for reservation on the basis of religion in the Constitution, and the 4% quota for Muslims was completely unconstitutional. The BJP Government in the State scrapped the reservation to uphold constitutional provisions, Shah argued.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also opposed the said prayer made by Central Muslim Association contending that media can never be censured in this manner.

The remark from the Bench came after senior counsel Dushyant Dave, who was representing petitioner Ghulam Rasool, challenging the decision to scrap quota, highlighted HM Amit Shah’s remarks and stated it amounted to contempt of court.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta took strong objection to the submission, saying the Court had not been “told about the context, content or anything”.

SG Tushar Mehta said that it was fully justified that HM Amit Shah is principally against religion-based reservations. He declared unequivocally that everyone has the right to express themselves on significant issues.

Mehta further stated before the court that any religious reservation is unconstitutional.

He stressed that if any Executive authority had interfered with citizens’ rights to speak what the Home Minister allegedly said, this Court would undoubtedly act and preserve his free speech rights.

When another lawyer present in the court informed the bench that the Bharatiya Janata Party had stated in its Election Manifesto that if elected, the party will repeal the 4% Muslim reservation, the Solicitor General retorted sharply saying that there is nothing wrong with such manifestos, and that every political party should state in their manifestos that they will eradicate religion-based reservations.

The SC bench, however, observed that sub judice cases should not be ‘politicised.’

“Why should such statements be made by anyone when the matter is sub judice?” a Bench of Justices K. M. Joseph, B. V. Nagarathna and Ahsanuddin Amanullah asked taking objection to HM Amit Shah’s remarks.

The SC bench observed that public functionaries should exercise restraint in their speeches, and not politicise issues that are under consideration by the Court.

The Kerala Story makers move SC against the ban in West Bengal, also challenge de facto ban by TN Govt

OpIndia Staff
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The Kerala Story makers move SC against the ban in West Bengal, also challenge de facto ban by TN Govt

On Tuesday, The Kerala Story makers Vipul Shah and Sudipto Sen moved to the Supreme Court against the decision of the West Bengal government to ban the film in the state. The petition additionally challenged the Tamil government’s decision to impose a de facto ban on the film by issuing an ‘alert’ anticipating protests in conjunction with the film’s release, as a result of which multiplexes in the state refused to screen it.

Through the plea, the makers of the film have not only opposed the arbitrary action taken by the West Bengal government against the release of the movie in the state but have also asked the Tamil Nadu government to provide protection to the theatre owners in the state against miscreants so that they agree to screen the film in their property.

Notably, on Monday, May 8, The Kerala Story producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah reacted to the announcement made by the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, where she said the state banned the film to “maintain peace”. Reacting to the statement, Shah said he would take appropriate legal action if West Bengal or any other state bans the film.

The film’s makers Vipul Shah and Sudipto Sen had also decided to take the Tamil Nadu multiplexes to court after the latter chose to stop screening the film.

Mamata Banerjee banned the film in West Bengal

On May 8, WB CM Banerjee banned the film in the state to maintain “peace”. Though the film’s name is ‘The Kerala Story’, she said ‘The Kerala Files’ for unknown reasons. “West Bengal govt has decided to ban the movie ‘The Kerala Story’. This is to avoid any incident of hatred and violence and to maintain peace in the state,” news agency ANI quoted her as saying.

Tamil Nadu theatres stop screening The Kerala Story

The multiplex theatres in TN had decided to drop the movie citing the law and order situation arising due to the protests against the film as well as a poor response to the film in the state.

This came after Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief Seeman and his supporters staged protests against the screening of the film in the Anna Nagar Arch near Skywalk Mall in Chennai on Saturday. Police apprehended NTK cadres following a protest inside a theatre opposing the screening of The Kerala Story.

Seeman claimed that The Kerala Story was made to denigrate Muslims and portray Muslims as terrorists. 

The Kerala Story screenings were cancelled in various Kerala districts on the day of its premiere. Two previously scheduled shows in Kochi were cancelled. The movie was also boycotted by theatre owners at Kochi’s Lulu Mall and Centre Square Mall. Similarly, theatres in the districts of Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Kannur, and Wayanad opted not to screen the film.

The recently released film has become a hot topic of discussion because of its sensitive topic, including terrorism, love jihad, and ISIS. While the film has received appreciation from all walks of society, a specific section opposed the film claiming that it shows the state of Kerala in a bad light. However, while hearing the plea against the film, the Kerala High Court categorically said if anyone would feel offended by the film it should be the terrorist organisation ISIS.

The movie ‘The Kerala Story‘ revolves around the tragic reality of ISIS brides, with Adah Sharma playing the role of one Shalini Unnikrishnan, who is brainwashed by her Muslim friends and gets converted to Islam. She later travels to IS (Islamic State) controlled area with her spouse.

Assam: Woman chops off private part of Islamic cleric Osman Ali after he tries to rape her

OpIndia Staff
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Assam: Woman chops off private part of Islamic cleric Osman Ali after he tries to rape her

On Monday (May 8), a woman chopped off the genitals of an Islamic cleric after he tried to rape her. The incident took place in Baralimari village in the Morigaon district of Assam.

As per reports, the accused was identified as Osman Ali. He is a native of Dhula village in the Darrang district of Assam. The victim is said to have acted in self-defence after Ali reportedly forced himself on her.

The accused had reportedly come to the Baralimari village to help a ‘childless couple’. But when he entered their house, he tried to rape the woman. The victim managed to grab a sharp object and cut off his private parts.

When the news of the incident spread, Osman Ali was rushed to the Morigaon Civil Hospital. He was later referred to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for further medical attention.

Muslim Maulvi got his penis chopped by wife

In June 2021, it was reported that the wife of an Islamic cleric named Maulvi Vakil Ahmed chopped off his penis for wanting to marry for the third time.

The said incident took place in the Shikarpur village Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Bhaurakala police station area. The accused was identified as one Hazra, the Maulvi’s first wife.

Hajra informed the police that Ahmed wanted to marry for the third time while she had been planning to get her unmarried daughter married first.

A heated argument ensued between the two, post which Hazra attacked him with a knife and chopped his private parts off. The police have arrested the accused, seized the murder weapon, and sent her to jail.

‘Assam to form an expert committee to study provisions of Shariat law and legalities to ban polygamy’: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

OpIndia Staff
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‘Assam to form an expert committee to study provisions of Shariat law and legalities to ban polygamy’: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

On Tuesday, May 9, the Assam government led by CM Himanta Biswas Sarma informed that it has decided to form a committee that will thoroughly investigate whether prohibiting the practice of polygamy by Muslim men in the state falls within the purview of the state government.

Speaking to ANI, the CM said that his government intends to prohibit polygamy through a state act rather than the UCC.

“We are not going through Uniform Civil Code (UCC), but we want to ban polygamy under a State Act. Assam Government has decided to form an expert committee to investigate whether the State Government has the authority to prohibit polygamy in the region. Assam Government wants to ban polygamy in the state,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

According to the Assam Government, the committee will be tasked with scrutinising the provisions of The Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Act, 1937, as well as Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, in relation to the directive principle of state policy for a uniform civil code.

The government said that the committee will engage in extensive discussions with all stakeholders, including legal experts, to arrive at a well-informed decision.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma also took to Twitter to inform about his government’s decision to form the aforementioned committee to scrutinise the legality of the practice.

Meanwhile, addressing a press conference at No.1 State Guest House, Koinadhara, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the committee will consist of legal experts, and they will discuss with Islamic scholars and others to build consensus.

“I have studied it over the last weeks and found that Polygamy is not an essential Islamic practice.
Our target is both direct and indirect polygamy, men keep other wives without marriage, and this is worse than direct polygamy. Polygamy we are banning, but what about such de-facto polygamy? We want to attack both formal and informal polygamy. The committee will suggest ways to curb both.

The CM added that the legality of how to overcome this practice has to be examined. “Be it Hindu or Muslim, no one supports polygamy but the 1937 Shariat Act is in there and now legal experts will have to analyse and see how we can overcome that. Whether it needs the President’s assent or a state act is enough. For all this, the committee will comprise legal experts who would engage in extensive discussions with all stakeholders to arrive at a well-informed decision,” Sarma said.

The Himanta Biswa Sarma government also issued a press note on the said proposal, wherein it gave examples of several cases to assert how the issue of polygamy and its legality has constantly engaged several High Courts.

It was also stated that the topic of polygamy was challenged in the Supreme Court during the Shayara Bano case. The Supreme Court, however, had not ruled on polygamy and had only ruled on triple talaq, according to the note.

It may be recalled that on 26 February 2016, Shayara Bano filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the practice of triple talaq, halala and polygamy. This prompted the Modi government to file a petition against triple talaq based on her petition. Her petition wanted the court to strike down those Islamic practices on the premise that they violated Articles 14, 15, 21 and 25 of the Constitution. On August 22, 2017, the Supreme Court in a landmark judgement outlawed the practice of talaq-e-biddat or Instant Triple Talaq.

The court, had, however, not passed any ruling on the Islamic practices of polygamy and nikah halala then saying, “Other questions raised in the connected writ petitions, such as polygamy and “halala” (and other allied matters) would be dealt with separately.”

The note further asserted that the practice of ‘polygamy’ infringes on the fundamental rights of Muslim women under Articles 13, 14 and 21 of the constitution of India.

In addition, the Assam government stated that India is a signatory to various international conventions and covenants, such as the UN Committee on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and others, which state that polygamy violates the dignity of women and should be abolished wherever it exists.

‘Muslim daughters should be made doctors, engineers, not child-producing machines’: Himanta Biswa Sarma bats for UCC in Karnataka

It may be recalled that even while addressing an election rally at Ujire in Belthangady district in poll-bound Karnataka recently, Himanta Biswa Sarma, the chief minister of Assam, had advocated for the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in Karnataka. The BJP leader emphasised the significance of the Uniform Civil Code, calling it the only solution to end the practice of ‘polygamy’ that is Muslim men marrying multiple women.

“Muslim women and daughters are made to marry over four times. We have to bring Uniform Civil Code. Muslim daughters should be made doctors, and engineers, not child-producing machines,” said the Assam CM.

Assam CM says polygamy, and instant talaq must be prohibited

Earlier also, the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared categorically that the Assam government is quite clear about prohibiting Muslim males from marrying multiple women. According to him, no Muslim male should marry more than one woman. “It takes one wife, one husband, and two children to live a happy life,” he said.

‘Depends on who gives the ranking’: SG Mehta counters Justice KM Joseph on press freedom ranking remarks

OpIndia Staff
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‘Depends on who gives the ranking’: SG Mehta counters Justice KM Joseph on press freedom ranking remarks

On May 9, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta disputed the credibility of the Press Freedom ranking of India given by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). As per RSF, India slipped 11 positions from the 150th rank in 2022 to the 161st rank in 2023. While hearing the Bikil Bano case in the Supreme Court, Justice KM Joseph remarked that India is in the 161st position in the Press Freedom ranking. SG Mehta countered it by saying the ranking depends on who gives it.

A Bench headed by Justice KM Joseph was hearing the challenging plea remission granted by the Gujarat government to 11 convicts of the gang rape of Bilkil Bano and the murder of her family in the 2002 Gujarat Riots.

The court ordered directing publication of notice for effectuating service on unserved respondents in the case. The court ordered to publish the public notice in one Gujarati and one English language newspaper indicating July 10, 2023, as the next hearing date.

While passing the order, Justice KM Joseph remarked, “We are 161 in terms of journalistic freedom,” to which SG Mehta responded, “Depends on the person giving the ranking, I can also have someone give the number one ranking to India…so it totally depends.”

The dubious press freedom ranking by RSF

Reporters Without Borders’s recently published press freedom ranking is based on old misleading reports and dubious data. In the recent ranking, India has been put at 161st rank, 11 ranks down from the previous ranking, which was 150. Interestingly, Reporters Without Borders has put India below authoritarian governments like Pakistan on the list.

RSF claimed the central government is spending more than 130 billion rupees (Rs 13,000 crores) or 5 billion euros a year on print and online media ads alone. OpIndia had filed an RTI seeking information on the ad spent by the central government on different platforms, including print, outdoor advertisements, social media, radio and television. Per the reply sent by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of India, the figures are nowhere close to what RSF has claimed.

Contrary to what RSF claimed, the reply to OpIndia’s RTI categorically showed that the Modi government had reduced its ad spending considerably over the years. In FY 2014-15, it spent Rs 682.32 crores. In the next four years, the ad spend stood above Rs 900 crores. However, After the Modi government came back to power in 2019, the money spent on ads was reduced to less than half and stood at Rs 348.07 crores in FY 2019-20, followed by 209.34 crore in 2020-21, 136.05 crores in 2021-22 and 126.58 crores in FY 2022-23 till December 31, 2022.

RSF claimed GoI spent Rs 13,000 crores only in print and online media ads. In reality, the ad spent on all formats (television, print, radio, outdoor, digital cinema, SMS, internet and misc) since the Modi government came to power stood under Rs 1,000 crores. It has been using the numbers for over a year but did not care to check the data provided by the government.

KM Joseph sparked controversy recently after he smiled at the calls for the genocide of Hindus. During a hearing on hate speech in the apex court, SG Mehta said pointed out the statements made against Hindus and informed the court about a call made by a DMK leader to butcher all the Brahmins. Justice Joseph smiled at this submission, according to legal media portals. When Mehta said that this was not a matter which should be laughed at, Justice Joseph asked if knows who Periyar was.

Furthermore, when advocate Vishnu Jain asked about the “Gustaakh e Rasool ki ek hi saza sar tan se juda sar tan se juda” slogan heard in Muslim rallies. Justice Joseph made another comment, saying, “Action has an equal reaction,” seemingly saying that the hate speeches by Muslims are the results of hate speeches by Hindus.

Howrah: Screening of ‘The Kerala Story’ disrupted, BJP accuses West Bengal police of attacking moviegoers

OpIndia Staff
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Howrah: Screening of ‘The Kerala Story’ disrupted, BJP accuses West Bengal police of attacking moviegoers

On Tuesday (May 9), the BJP accused the West Bengal police of disrupting the screening of the movie ‘The Kerala Story’ at Forum Rangoli Mall in Belur in Howrah.

In a series of videos that have now surfaced on social media, uniformed personnel were seen having a heated argument with movie go-ers. The armed cops also pulled the collar of some men and dragged them away.

While speaking about the development, BJP leader Rakesh Singh said, “Mamata Banerjee is trampling on civil liberties and freedom of speech with impunity in West Bengal. This video is reportedly from Rangoli Mall under Howrah Police Commissionerate.”

He called for the restoration of law and order in the State and emphasised, “People are getting assaulted for wanting to watch a movie…Mamata Banerje’s Police against innocent audience who turned there only to watch a movie passed by Censor Board is in complete violation of the basic fundamental rights.

BJP media panellist Ashutosh Jha said, “Overaction of Police against innocent audience who turned there only to watch a movie passed by the Censor Board is in complete violation of the basic fundamental rights.” He sought the intervention of the West Bengal Governor into the matter.

BJP karyakarta Amit Thakur said, “Mamta Banerjee Police are Stopping people from watching the #TheKeralaStory This behaviour is unacceptable. We all should support the film.”

Vice-President of BJP Yuva Morcha, Priyanka Sharma, said, “Howrah Police Harassed & Dragged out public who went to watch #TheKeralaStoryMovie at Rangoli Mall. Their crime was they just want the Re-fund of the tickets.”

She pointed out, “Mamata Didi’s police treat criminals very gently, but use their power towards innocents.” It must be mentioned that Sharma was once arrested for posting a ‘Met-gala themed meme’ of Mamata Banerjee.

Opindia reached out to the Forum Rangoli Mall but they refused to answer our question and disconnected the call.

Mamata Banerjee bans ‘The Kerala Story’ in West Bengal

On Monday (May 8), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee banned the movie ‘The Kerala Files’ (sic) in West Bengal, citing the need to maintain ‘peace’ in the State.

“West Bengal govt has decided to ban the movie ‘The Kerala Story’. This is to avoid any incident of hatred and violence, and to maintain peace in the state,” news agency ANI quoted her as saying.

Mamata Banerjee had referred to the said movie as a ‘distorted film’ during a press briefing at Nabanna after lashing out at Director Vivek Agnihotri’s The Kashmir Files.

The movie ‘The Kerala Story‘ revolves around the tragic reality of ISIS brides, with the lead actor Adah Sharma playing the role of one Shalini Unnikrishnan, who is brainwashed by her Muslim friends and gets converted to Islam. She later travels to IS (Islamic State) controlled area with her spouse.

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